The Wood Brothers and Daniel Donato team up with String Cheese Incident for classic rock covers
The annual musical event at Colorado’s renowned Red Rocks Amphitheatre took place recently, featuring the String Cheese Incident joined by The Wood Brothers on Friday and Daniel Donato on Saturday for classic rock covers. The hometown band began the second set each night with special covers by these guests.
The Wood Brothers, consisting of Oliver Wood on guitar/vocals, Chris Wood on bass, and Jano Rix on various instruments, had previously collaborated with SCI in May and kicked off a memorable performance at Red Rocks with 11 songs, including tracks from their upcoming album, “Puff Of Smoke.”
The String Cheese Incident delighted fans with hits like “Rosie” and “Black Clouds” to kick off their set on Friday, leading into newer songs like “Can’t Wait Another Day” and “Way Back When.” This was followed by the groovy “Water” and a rare Bob Dylan cover, “Like A Rolling Stone,” among other jam-heavy tunes like “Eye Know Why” and “All We Got.”
The Wood Brothers and SCI shared a special moment on stage performing a rendition of The Band’s classic “Ophelia,” a song that SCI hadn’t played since 2019. Oliver Wood and Bill Nershi traded lead vocals, while Chris Wood and SCI bassist Keith Moseley added to the harmonies. Michael Kang completed the ensemble with a final verse, making it a memorable collaboration.
Cheese continued to impress with tracks like “Desert Dawn,” an extended “Carnival,” and their latest jam vehicle, “Roll Around The Sun.” The audience was treated to a debut cover of Steve Miller Band’s “Swingtown” and a sensational finish to the set with “Joyful Sound,” “I Know You Rider,” and finally, “Desert Dawn.”
The following night, guitarist Daniel Donato joined SCI on stage, adding to the eclectic mix of music at Red Rocks. Donato brought his unique style to classics like “Blue Sky” and added a fresh perspective to the band’s sound.
Overall, both nights at Red Rocks were a showcase of collaborative spirit and musical talent as established artists and emerging artists came together to create an unforgettable experience for the fans. The camaraderie between these musicians, reflected in their seamless performances, made each cover song and jam session a highlight of the weekend event.
In conclusion, the combination of The String Cheese Incident, The Wood Brothers, and Daniel Donato at Red Rocks proved to be a magical and harmonious blend of genres and styles, showcasing the power of music to bring artists and audiences together in a celebration of creativity and unity.